OT stock broker

Just a brief question to the good guys on this site. I have some stock being held by Smith-Barney. These guys scare me to death, what with Citi group ready to go tango uniform, I was hoping for some recommendation as to which brokerage is probably solvent enough to trust. . .if indeed there are any left in the world. If y'all have any good ideas, I would be more than happy to entertain them, as I am an NFG in the world of stocks. Hell of a time for my aunt to die and leave them to me. Thank you in anticipation for your response. John in Everett WA.

Vietvet...Your stocks are insured by the SIPC to $500K. Then some brokerage firms purchase additional insurance from private corps. You're safe. FYI, assuming you inherited the securities from your aunt it is important you know the cost basis as to determining gain/loss on sale of such. The cost basis for you is what the security closed at the day your aunt died.

Your stocks may be insured but if Smith Barney and Citi get tangled up with the Gov't you will loose control over them until such time as your insurance clain is settled and who knows how long that will be. I would transfer them to a firm that is not mixed up with any of that Gov't take over business like Scottrade or Schwab. If they crater while out of your control that is just gonna be to bad. Just my opinion.